Ill 



tience; others are rising, worthy to co-operate with them, and in 

 due time to succeed them ; nor need we fear that genius and energy 

 will ever fail among our people. Still less have I any dread of 

 that greater calamity, that in the pursuit of knowledge we may 

 make shipwreck of Faith ; that Science, while like sunlight it re- 

 veals the wonders of earth, may obscure those of heaven. That 

 temptation has over us but little hold ; our temperament is too 

 poetic, too reverential, too religious ! If there be any cloud that 

 throws a shadow over our prospect, it is the dread of disunion, 

 that bane of Ireland, whose poison has tainted every page of her 

 history from the beginning to the present time ; whose baneful in- 

 fluence has made of no avail the valour of her heroes, the genius 

 of her bards, the wisdom of her sages, and the piety of her saints ! 

 I say this, not from any belief that it has as yet found entrance 

 among you ; on the contrary, all my experience has shown that in 

 this respect you are honourably distinguished above most other 

 societies ; and I hold the lesson which your example has thus 

 given as one of the greatest blessings which you have conferred on 

 your country. Yet be ever on your guard, and therefore let me 

 conclude by giving you a charm against the serpent, which I re- 

 ceived from one who seldom spoke in vain.* 



" Look to the true ends of knowledge ! Seek it not for amuse- 

 ment, for contention, or that you may iQok down on others ! Seek 

 it not for profit, or fame, or power, or mean things of the sort, but 

 for its own dignity and the improvement of life ! Make it perfect, 

 and wield it in gentleness and love ! For by desire of power angels 

 fell ; by desire of knowledge, men. But of love there can be no 

 excess, and by it neither angel nor man was ever endangered." 



It remains now to enter on the duties to which you have called 

 me- May I justify your choice ! I rely on the zealous co-operation 

 of you all ; I rely on the talents and prudence of the Council whom 

 you have appointed to assist me; but I rely above all on the highest 

 aid, Him, without whom all else is vain. May He bless our labours 

 to our own improvement, happiness, and wisdom ; to the advantage 

 of our fellow-men, and a fuller manifestation, to ourselves and 

 them, of His goodness, His glory, and His power ! 



* Preface to the Novum Organum. 



